Judge accused of verbally abusing NZ First leader Winston Peters to face conduct panel

District Court Judge Ema Aitken denies some of the claims that will be investigated by a judicial conduct panel. Photo / RNZ, Dan Cook

By RNZ

The Chief District Court Judge could be called to give evidence in the hearing of a judge accused of disrupting a New Zealand First event.

District Court Judge Ema Aitken will appear before a judicial conduct panel after allegedly disrupting a function at Auckland’s exclusive Northern Club in 2024.

She is accused of shouting that NZ First leader Winston Peters was lying.

Judge Aitken said she didn’t shout, didn’t recognise Peters’ voice when she responded to remarks she overheard and didn’t know it was a political event.

A judicial conduct panel will review her conduct at a hearing in February.

A minute from last December indicated an intention from Judge Aitken, represented by David Jones, KC, to call Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu.

“The panel requests that the application foreshadowed by counsel for the judge for a direction that a summons be issued to a witness should be filed by no later than Friday, January 23, 2026,” it said.

“That request applies to both the summons to the Ministry of Justice employee... and to the summons to the Chief District Court Judge.”

The panel overseeing the inquiry is led by retired Court of Appeal Judge Brendan Brown, KC, and includes sitting Court of Appeal Judge Justice Jillian Mallon and former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

It will determine facts and write a report to the Attorney-General, including whether the removal of the judge is justified.

The inquiry is scheduled for Auckland next month.

- RNZ